In this interview and video, Marty Linsky describes the “dangers” of leadership. In his definition, “People who exercise leadership push against the prevailing wind. They deliver messages that people don’t want to hear.” He contends that people who are under such leadership push back, and this creates risk and vulnerability for the leader.
This understanding of leadership resonates with the narrative found in the prophets of Scripture. A premier example is Jeremiah. In his call narrative, God instructs him to “pluck up, break down, destroy, overthrow,” and then to "build and to plant." Not that we can immediately transfer this model to the church 1:1 (the task of exegesis and biblical theology), there are many leadership principles from the ministry of Jeremiah. Jeremiah made himself vulnerable by delivering the messages that God’s people needed to hear, but did not want (think Lamentations).
Many pastors tend to stray away from prophetic preaching and ministry. These types tend to make everything overly simplistic and often proclaim a message that Christianity makes your life easier. This is what I would call the self-help gospel. We must be sensitive to deliver and model the full message of the gospel. More often than not, the gospel taking full reign in people’s lives is a painful process. Think of the rich young ruler that wanted this eternal life that Jesus was offering. It was not a message the ruler wanted to hear. Salvation is free, but the message isn’t easy to swallow, let alone deliver.
I'll take this one~
ReplyDeleteI agree. Most of the prophets were not well-received by their contemporaries.
ReplyDeleteThis video--and your post--make me think of the courage required to be a Christian leader. I think something is definitely lost when we preach a gospel that makes life "easier." I would say the Jesus does make life better; but that does not necessarily include wealth, power or beauty. Easier was never promised--not for anyone.
It takes courage, though, to proclaim the gospel, which I would argue takes everyone out of their comfort zone—both the preacher and the listener. Ultimately, I think the problem comes not with preaching an “easy” gospel or people not facing the cost of discipleship; I think the problem comes with people who believe but lack power.
I’m beginning to find that the real issue in the contemporary church is the difference between those who connect with God’s power and those who don’t. Ultimately, it takes courage to get to the place in our lives—as leaders and as followers—where we actively explore the transformative power of God.